Enhancing collaboration in real-time group chat system and method

ABSTRACT

A method, computer program product, and computer system for maintaining, between a plurality of participating computing devices, a collaboration session that includes a group instant messaging session within an object, wherein the plurality of participating computing devices includes a host computing device and one or more non-host computing devices in the group instant messaging session. A first sub-object of a plurality of sub-objects is generated within the object, wherein the first sub-object is rendered on the host computing device and the one or more non-host computing devices. Permission is assigned to the host computing device to edit content in the first sub-object, wherein the content in the first sub-object is rendered on the host computing device and the one or more non-host computing devices, and wherein the non-host computing devices are precluded from editing the content in the first sub-object.

BACKGROUND

A collaboration session may include such things as group instantmessaging (IM) or “chat” technology, allowing users to communicate withmultiple people in the same chat session in real-time. A group IMsession may be used for any number of reasons, such as enabling a hostof the group IM session to coordinate a large group of geographicallydiverse people to perform specific tasks, distributing dynamicinformation, and gathering immediate feedback. As the size of the groupIM session increases, users may join and leave the group IM session atdifferent times, engage in side conversations within the group IMsession, and produce multiple comments (relevant and non-relevant) thatrequire scrolling to find and review.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In one implementation, a method, performed by one or more computingdevices, may include but is not limited to maintaining, between aplurality of participating computing devices, a collaboration sessionthat may include a group instant messaging session within an object,wherein the plurality of participating computing devices may include ahost computing device and one or more non-host computing devices in thegroup instant messaging session. A first sub-object of a plurality ofsub-objects may be generated within the object, wherein the firstsub-object may be rendered on the host computing device and the one ormore non-host computing devices. Permission may be assigned to the hostcomputing device to edit content in the first sub-object, wherein thecontent in the first sub-object may be rendered on the host computingdevice and the one or more non-host computing devices, and wherein thenon-host computing devices may be precluded from editing the content inthe first sub-object.

One or more of the following features may be included. Permission to atleast one other computing device of the plurality of participatingcomputing devices to edit the content in the first sub-object may bedelegated by the host computing device. The first sub-object may includea non-group instant messaging session message rendered on the hostcomputing device and the one or more non-host computing devices. Thefirst sub-object may include a summary of messages from the groupinstant messaging session selected by the host computing device. Thesummary of messages from the group instant messaging session selected bythe host computing device may be aggregated in an expandable list. Asecond sub-object of the plurality of sub-objects may be generatedwithin the object by a first non-host computing device of the one ormore non-host computing devices, wherein the second sub-object may berendered on the first non-host computing device and excluded fromrendering on a remaining portion of the plurality of participatingcomputing devices. The second sub-object may include a summary ofmessages from the group instant messaging session selected by the firstnon-host computing device of the one or more non-host computing devices.

In another implementation, a computing system includes a processor and amemory configured to perform operations that may include but are notlimited to maintaining, between a plurality of participating computingdevices, a collaboration session that may include a group instantmessaging session within an object, wherein the plurality ofparticipating computing devices may include a host computing device andone or more non-host computing devices in the group instant messagingsession. A first sub-object of a plurality of sub-objects may begenerated within the object, wherein the first sub-object may berendered on the host computing device and the one or more non-hostcomputing devices. Permission may be assigned to the host computingdevice to edit content in the first sub-object, wherein the content inthe first sub-object may be rendered on the host computing device andthe one or more non-host computing devices, and wherein the non-hostcomputing devices may be precluded from editing the content in the firstsub-object.

One or more of the following features may be included. Permission to atleast one other computing device of the plurality of participatingcomputing devices to edit the content in the first sub-object may bedelegated by the host computing device. The first sub-object may includea non-group instant messaging session message rendered on the hostcomputing device and the one or more non-host computing devices. Thefirst sub-object may include a summary of messages from the groupinstant messaging session selected by the host computing device. Thesummary of messages from the group instant messaging session selected bythe host computing device may be aggregated in an expandable list. Asecond sub-object of the plurality of sub-objects may be generatedwithin the object by a first non-host computing device of the one ormore non-host computing devices, wherein the second sub-object may berendered on the first non-host computing device and excluded fromrendering on a remaining portion of the plurality of participatingcomputing devices. The second sub-object may include a summary ofmessages from the group instant messaging session selected by the firstnon-host computing device of the one or more non-host computing devices.

In another implementation, a computer program product resides on acomputer readable storage medium that has a plurality of instructionsstored on it. When executed by a processor, the instructions cause theprocessor to perform operations that may include but are not limited tomaintaining, between a plurality of participating computing devices, acollaboration session that may include a group instant messaging sessionwithin an object, wherein the plurality of participating computingdevices may include a host computing device and one or more non-hostcomputing devices in the group instant messaging session. A firstsub-object of a plurality of sub-objects may be generated within theobject, wherein the first sub-object may be rendered on the hostcomputing device and the one or more non-host computing devices.Permission may be assigned to the host computing device to edit contentin the first sub-object, wherein the content in the first sub-object maybe rendered on the host computing device and the one or more non-hostcomputing devices, and wherein the non-host computing devices may beprecluded from editing the content in the first sub-object.

One or more of the following features may be included. Permission to atleast one other computing device of the plurality of participatingcomputing devices to edit the content in the first sub-object may bedelegated by the host computing device. The first sub-object may includea non-group instant messaging session message rendered on the hostcomputing device and the one or more non-host computing devices. Thefirst sub-object may include a summary of messages from the groupinstant messaging session selected by the host computing device. Thesummary of messages from the group instant messaging session selected bythe host computing device may be aggregated in an expandable list. Asecond sub-object of the plurality of sub-objects may be generatedwithin the object by a first non-host computing device of the one ormore non-host computing devices, wherein the second sub-object may berendered on the first non-host computing device and excluded fromrendering on a remaining portion of the plurality of participatingcomputing devices. The second sub-object may include a summary ofmessages from the group instant messaging session selected by the firstnon-host computing device of the one or more non-host computing devices.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features andadvantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, andthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative diagrammatic view of an IM process coupled toa distributed computing network according to one or more implementationsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a client electronic device of FIG. 1according to one or more implementations of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative flowchart of the IM process of FIG. 1according to one or more implementations of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative diagrammatic view of a screen image displayedby the IM process of FIG. 1 according to one or more implementations ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is an illustrative diagrammatic view of a screen image displayedby the IM process of FIG. 1 according to one or more implementations ofthe present disclosure.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION System Overview:

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown IM process 10 that may reside onand may be executed by a computer (e.g., computer 12), which may beconnected to a network (e.g., network 14) (e.g., the internet or a localarea network). Examples of computer 12 (and/or one or more of the clientelectronic devices noted below) may include, but are not limited to, apersonal computer(s), a laptop computer(s), mobile computing device(s),a server computer, a series of server computers, a mainframecomputer(s), or a computing cloud(s). Computer 12 may execute anoperating system, for example, but not limited to, Microsoft® Windows®;Mac® OS X®; Red Hat® Linux®, or a custom operating system. (Microsoftand Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in theUnited States, other countries or both; Mac and OS X are registeredtrademarks of Apple Inc. in the United States, other countries or both;Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat Corporation in the UnitedStates, other countries or both; and Linux is a registered trademark ofLinus Torvalds in the United States, other countries or both).

As will be discussed below in greater detail, IM process 10 maymaintain, between a plurality of participating computing devices, acollaboration session that may include a group instant messaging sessionwithin an object, wherein the plurality of participating computingdevices may include a host computing device and one or more non-hostcomputing devices in the group instant messaging session. A firstsub-object of a plurality of sub-objects may be generated within theobject, wherein the first sub-object may be rendered on the hostcomputing device and the one or more non-host computing devices.Permission may be assigned to the host computing device to edit contentin the first sub-object, wherein the content in the first sub-object maybe rendered on the host computing device and the one or more non-hostcomputing devices, and wherein the non-host computing devices may beprecluded from editing the content in the first sub-object.

The instruction sets and subroutines of IM process 10, which may bestored on storage device 16 coupled to computer 12, may be executed byone or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures(not shown) included within computer 12. Storage device 16 may includebut is not limited to: a hard disk drive; a flash drive, a tape drive;an optical drive; a RAID array; a random access memory (RAM); and aread-only memory (ROM).

Network 14 may be connected to one or more secondary networks (e.g.,network 18), examples of which may include but are not limited to: alocal area network; a wide area network; or an intranet, for example.

Computer 12 may execute a collaboration application (e.g., collaborationapplication 20), examples of which may include, but are not limited to,e.g., a web conferencing application, a video conferencing application,a voice-over-IP application, a video-over-IP application, InstantMessaging (IM)/“chat” application, or other application that allows forvirtual meeting and/or remote collaboration. IM process 10 and/orcollaboration application 20 may be accessed via client applications 22,24, 26, 28. IM process 10 may be a stand alone application, or may be anapplet/application/script/extension that may interact with and/or beexecuted within collaboration application 20, a component ofcollaboration application 20, and/or one or more of client applications22, 24, 26, 28. Collaboration application 20 may be a stand aloneapplication, or may be an applet/application/script/extension that mayinteract with and/or be executed within IM process 10, a component of IMprocess 10, and/or one or more of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28.One or more of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28 may be a stand aloneapplication, or may be an applet/application/script/extension that mayinteract with and/or be executed within and/or be a component of IMprocess 10 and/or collaboration application 20. Examples of clientapplications 22, 24, 26, 28 may include, but are not limited to, e.g., aweb conferencing application, a video conferencing application, avoice-over-IP application, a video-over-IP application, InstantMessaging (IM)/“chat” application, or other application that allows forvirtual meeting and/or remote collaboration, a standard and/or mobileweb browser, an email client application, a textual and/or a graphicaluser interface, a customized web browser, a plugin, an ApplicationProgramming Interface (API), or a custom application. The instructionsets and subroutines of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28, which may bestored on storage devices 30, 32, 34, 36, coupled to client electronicdevices 38, 40, 42, 44, may be executed by one or more processors (notshown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporatedinto client electronic devices 38, 40, 42, 44.

Storage devices 30, 32, 34, 36, may include but are not limited to: harddisk drives; flash drives, tape drives; optical drives; RAID arrays;random access memories (RAM); and read-only memories (ROM). Examples ofclient electronic devices 38, 40, 42, 44 (and/or computer 12) mayinclude, but are not limited to, a personal computer (e.g., clientelectronic device 38), a laptop computer (e.g., client electronic device40), a smart/data-enabled, cellular phone (e.g., client electronicdevice 42), a notebook computer (e.g., client electronic device 44), atablet (not shown), a server (not shown), a television (not shown), asmart television (not shown), a media (e.g., video, photo, etc.)capturing device (not shown), and a dedicated network device (notshown). Client electronic devices 38, 40, 42, 44 may each execute anoperating system, examples of which may include but are not limited to,Android™, Apple® iOS®, Mac® OS X®; Red Hat® Linux®, or a customoperating system.

One or more of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28 may be configured toeffectuate some or all of the functionality of IM process 10 (and viceversa). Accordingly, IM process 10 may be a purely server-sideapplication, a purely client-side application, or a hybridserver-side/client-side application that is cooperatively executed byone or more of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28 and/or IM process 10.

One or more of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28 may be configured toeffectuate some or all of the functionality of collaboration application20 (and vice versa). Accordingly, collaboration application 20 may be apurely server-side application, a purely client-side application, or ahybrid server-side/client-side application that is cooperativelyexecuted by one or more of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28 and/orcollaboration application 20. As one or more of client applications 22,24, 26, 28, IM process 10, and collaboration application 20, takensingly or in any combination, may effectuate some or all of the samefunctionality, any description of effectuating such functionality viaone or more of client applications 22, 24, 26, 28, IM process 10,collaboration application 20, or combination thereof, and any describedinteraction(s) between one or more of client applications 22, 24, 26,28, IM process 10, collaboration application 20, or combination thereofto effectuate such functionality, should be taken as an example only andnot to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Users 46, 48, 50, 52 may access computer 12 and IM process 10 (e.g.,using one or more of client electronic devices 38, 40, 42, 44) directlythrough network 14 or through secondary network 18. Further, computer 12may be connected to network 14 through secondary network 18, asillustrated with phantom link line 54. IM process 10 may include one ormore user interfaces, such as browsers and textual or graphical userinterfaces, through which users 46, 48, 50, 52 may access IM process 10.

The various client electronic devices may be directly or indirectlycoupled to network 14 (or network 18). For example, client electronicdevice 38 is shown directly coupled to network 14 via a hardwirednetwork connection. Further, client electronic device 44 is showndirectly coupled to network 18 via a hardwired network connection.Client electronic device 40 is shown wirelessly coupled to network 14via wireless communication channel 56 established between clientelectronic device 40 and wireless access point (i.e., WAP) 58, which isshown directly coupled to network 14. WAP 58 may be, for example, anIEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, Wi-Fi®, and/or Bluetooth™ device that iscapable of establishing wireless communication channel 56 between clientelectronic device 40 and WAP 58. Client electronic device 42 is shownwirelessly coupled to network 14 via wireless communication channel 60established between client electronic device 42 and cellularnetwork/bridge 62, which is shown directly coupled to network 14.

Some or all of the IEEE 802.11x specifications may use Ethernet protocoland carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (i.e.,CSMA/CA) for path sharing. The various 802.11x specifications may usephase-shift keying (i.e., PSK) modulation or complementary code keying(i.e., CCK) modulation, for example. Bluetooth™ is a telecommunicationsindustry specification that allows, e.g., mobile phones, computers,smart phones, and other electronic devices to be interconnected using ashort-range wireless connection. Other forms of interconnection (e.g.,Near Field Communication (NFC)) may also be used.

Referring also to FIG. 2, there is shown a diagrammatic view of clientelectronic device 38. While client electronic device 38 is shown in thisfigure, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to bea limitation of this disclosure, as other configurations are possible.For example, any computing device capable of executing, in whole or inpart, IM process 10 may be substituted for client electronic device 38within FIG. 2, examples of which may include but are not limited tocomputer 12 and/or client electronic devices 40, 42, 44.

Client electronic device 38 may include a processor and/ormicroprocessor (e.g., microprocessor 200) configured to, e.g., processdata and execute the above-noted code/instruction sets and subroutines.Microprocessor 200 may be coupled via a storage adaptor (not shown) tothe above-noted storage device(s) (e.g., storage device 30). An I/Ocontroller (e.g., I/O controller 202) may be configured to couplemicroprocessor 200 with various devices, such as keyboard 206,pointing/selecting device (e.g., mouse 208), custom device (e.g., device215), USB ports (not shown), and printer ports (not shown). A displayadaptor (e.g., display adaptor 210) may be configured to couple display212 (e.g., CRT or LCD monitor(s)) with microprocessor 200, while networkcontroller/adaptor 214 (e.g., an Ethernet adaptor) may be configured tocouple microprocessor 200 to the above-noted network 14 (e.g., theInternet or a local area network).

The IM Process:

As discussed above and referring also to FIGS. 3-5, IM process 10 maymaintain 300, between a plurality of participating computing devices, acollaboration session that may include a group instant messaging sessionwithin an object, wherein the plurality of participating computingdevices may include a host computing device and one or more non-hostcomputing devices in the group instant messaging session. IM process 10may generate 302 a first sub-object of a plurality of sub-objects withinthe object, wherein the first sub-object may be rendered on the hostcomputing device and the one or more non-host computing devices. IMprocess 10 may assign 304 permission to the host computing device toedit content in the first sub-object, wherein the content in the firstsub-object may be rendered on the host computing device and the one ormore non-host computing devices, and wherein the non-host computingdevices may be precluded from editing the content in the firstsub-object.

As discussed above, a collaboration session may include such things asgroup instant messaging (IM) or “chat” technology, allowing users tocommunicate with multiple people in the same chat session in real-time.A group IM session may be used for any number of reasons, such asenabling a host of the group IM session to coordinate a large group ofgeographically diverse people to perform specific tasks, distributingdynamic information, and gathering immediate feedback. As the size ofthe group IM session increases, it may become difficult to follow all ofthe information that is relevant to the group IM session, sincedifferent users may constantly join and leave the group IM session atdifferent times, engage in side conversations within the group IMsession, and produce multiple comments (relevant and non-relevant) thatrequire scrolling to find and review.

For instance, assume for example purposes only that a group of, e.g.,200 employees at Company XYZ, are tasked with stress testing a server.In the example, they may need to ping the server at precise times whilethe host (e.g., server administrator) collects data. Further in theexample, assume the host (e.g., user 52) starts a group IM session. Inthe example, although user 52 invites 200 employees to participate inthe group IM session, only 190 employees have joined the group IMsession thus far. Nonetheless, user 52 decides to start thestress-testing session. User 52 then uses the group IM session object(e.g., window) to instruct the group IM session participants to startstress testing the server. Now assume that after 10 minutes, user 52uses the group IM session window to instruct the group IM sessionparticipants to stop testing and wait so that user 52 may collect data.Further assume that while the group IM session testers wait, they startto discuss their lunch plans in the group IM session window, where adiscussion ensues about which sandwich shop makes the best clubsandwich.

Now assume that the 191^(st) user (e.g., user 46) joins the group IMsession. User 46 may be confused as to where things stand with theserver stress testing because user 46 only sees the group IM sessionwindow filled with discussions about sandwiches, resulting in scrollingout of view of the earlier IM message from user 52 for all participantsto stop testing. User 46 assumes that they should be stress testing theserver based on the subject of the group IM session, so user 46 pingsthe server, resulting in the corruption of the data being collected byuser 52.

It may be possible to provide a level of customization to allow hostsand/or other participants of the group IM session to help determine whatinformation is relevant. For instance, in some implementations, IMprocess 10 may maintain 300, between a plurality of participatingcomputing devices, a collaboration session that may include a groupinstant messaging session within an object (e.g., window 400), whereinthe plurality of participating computing devices may include a hostcomputing device and one or more non-host computing devices in the groupinstant messaging session. For instance, referring at least to FIG. 4and continuing with the above example, IM process 10 may maintain 300 agroup IM session between a plurality of computing devices, which mayinclude a host computing device (e.g., computing device 44) and one ormore non-host computing devices (e.g., computing device 38 and computingdevice 40). IM process 10 may generate window 400 as the designated userinterface window as seen from the point of view of host computing device44.

In some implementations, IM process 10 may generate 302 a firstsub-object of a plurality of sub-objects within the object, wherein thefirst sub-object may be rendered on the host computing device (i.e., thecomputing device associated with the host of the group IM session, inthe example) and the one or more non-host computing devices (i.e., thecomputing devices associated with non-host participants of the group IMsession, in the example). For instance, and continuing with the aboveexample, IM process 10 may generate 302 a first sub-object (e.g.,sub-window) within window 400, which may be rendered by IM process 10 onhost computing device 44, as well as non-host computing devices 38 and40. In some implementations, and referring at least to FIG. 5, IMprocess 10 may generate window 500 as the designated user interfacewindow as seen from the point of view of, e.g., non-host computingdevices 38, which is different from the point of view of host computingdevice 44 in window 400.

For example, in some implementations, the first sub-object may include anon-group instant messaging session message rendered on the hostcomputing device and the one or more non-host computing devices. Forinstance, the first sub-object may include sub-window 402. In theexample, sub-window 402 may include a non-group IM session message(i.e., an IM that is disseminated by host computing device 44 tonon-host computing devices 38 and 40, but via a sub-window (within thesame group IM session) that is different from the sub-window where IMsfrom all the group IM session participants are disseminated andreceived, such as sub-window 404). Put another way, sub-window 402 maybe generally described as a “banner” message, by which an IMspecifically sent by host computing device 44 may be rendered onnon-host computing devices 38 and 40 via sub-window 502. By contrast,any IMs sent via sub-window 404 and/or sub-window 504 may be rendered ineach respective sub-window 404/504. In the above-example, if user 52(via IM process 10) had sent the non-group IM session message insub-window 402, that message would have been rendered in sub-window 502such that user 46 may have been able to more easily view it to know notto ping the server, rather than missing that message due to it beinglost in the group IM session window filled with discussions aboutsandwiches.

IM process 10 may assign 304 permission to the host computing device toedit content in the first sub-object, wherein the content in the firstsub-object may be rendered on the host computing device and the one ormore non-host computing devices, and wherein the non-host computingdevices may be precluded from editing the content in the firstsub-object. For instance, and continuing with the above example, whilean IM specifically sent by host computing device 44 (e.g., via IMprocess 10) may be rendered on host computing device 44 via sub-window402 thus being rendered on non-host computing devices 38 and 40 viasub-window 502, non-host computing devices 38 and 40 are precluded fromediting content in sub-window 402. For example, non-host computingdevices 38 and 40 may be precluded from sending any IMs via sub-window502, which may result in IMs being rendered via sub-window 402 and/or502. Thus, IM process 10 has only assigned 304 permission to hostcomputing device 44 to edit content in sub-window 402.

In some implementations, IM process 10 may delegate 306 permission bythe host computing device to at least one other computing device of theplurality of participating computing devices to edit the content in thefirst sub-object. For instance, assume for example purposes only thatuser 52 would like to allow user 46 to become a host of the group IMsession (permanently and/or temporarily). In the example, user 52 (e.g.,via IM process 10) may delegate 306 permission to user 46 (via computingdevice 38) to edit the content in sub-window 502, thus being rendered onhost computing device 44 via sub-window 402 and all other participatingcomputing devices in the group IM session via their respective “banner”sub-windows (not shown). In some implementations, when permission isdelegated 306 to user 46, user 46 may be highlighted or otherwiseaugmented in a list of users participating in the group IM session. Itwill be appreciated that any permissions provided to the host computingdevice (e.g., the ability to delegate 306 editing permission to one ormore sub-windows, the ability to remove one or more participants fromthe group IM session, the ability to mute one or more participants fromentering further IMs, the ability to edit a subject/title of the groupIM session, etc.), as well as other permissions not discussed, may bedelegated 306 without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

In some implementations, the first sub-object may include a summary ofmessages from the group instant messaging session selected by the hostcomputing device. For instance, and referring at least to FIG. 4, assumefor example purposes only that user 52 decides that a particular IM sentby user 46 (via computing device 38) is important and should be“favorited”. In the example, user 52 (via host computing device 44 andIM process 10) may use a pointing device (e.g., cursor 406) to select anobject (e.g., icon 408) to denote that the particular IM sent by user 46is important. In some implementations, the summary of messages from thegroup instant messaging session selected by the host computing devicemay be aggregated in an expandable list. The expandable list is shown byexample in sub-window 410 in FIG. 4. In some implementations, similarlyto the above-discussion pertaining to sub-window 402 of host computingdevice 44, sub-window 410 may be rendered on host computing device 44and non-host computing devices 38 and 40 (e.g., via sub-window 510),where only host computing devices (e.g., host computing device 44) maybe assigned 304 permission to edit sub-window 410. In someimplementations, sub-window 410 of host computing device 44 may berendered only on host computing device 44 and not rendered on one ormore other participating computing devices (host and/or non-hostcomputing devices). Sub-window 410 may include other information, suchas, e.g., the last IM that the host sent, the last IM that the hostmarked as a favorite, the last participant to join the group IM session,the last participant to leave the group IM session, as well as otherinformation.

In some implementations, IM process 10 may generate 308 a secondsub-object of the plurality of sub-objects within the object by a firstnon-host computing device of the one or more non-host computing devices,wherein the second sub-object may be rendered on the first non-hostcomputing device and excluded from rendering on a remaining portion ofthe plurality of participating computing devices. For example, andreferring at least to FIGS. 4 and 5, similarly to sub-window 410 of hostcomputing device 44 may be rendered only on host computing device 44 andnot rendered on one or more other participating computing devices,sub-window 510 of non-host computing device 38 may be generated 308(e.g., rendered) only on non-host computing device 38 and not renderedon one or more other participating computing devices. As such, eachparticipating user, including user 46, is provided (via IM process 10)with the ability to customize window 500 with one or more sub-windows(e.g., sub-window 510) that may be rendered only for user 46 on theirindividual computing device (e.g., non-host computing device 38).

In some implementations, the second sub-object may include a summary ofmessages from the group instant messaging session selected by the firstnon-host computing device of the one or more non-host computing devices.For instance, assume for example purposes only that user 46 decides thata particular IM sent by user 52 (via computing device 44) is importantand should be “favorited”. In the example, user 46 (via host computingdevice 38 and IM process 10) may use a pointing device (e.g., cursor406) to select an object (e.g., icon 508) to denote that the particularIM sent by user 52 is important. In some implementations, the summary ofmessages from the group instant messaging session selected by thenon-host computing device may be aggregated in an expandable list. Theexpandable list is shown by example in sub-window 510 in FIG. 5. Asdiscussed above, sub-window 510 may include the summary of messages fromthe group instant messaging session selected by the host computingdevice (e.g., aggregated in an expandable list). In someimplementations, sub-window 510 may include other information, such as,e.g., the last IM that the host and/or user 46 sent, the last IM thatthe host and/or user 46 marked as a favorite, the last participant tojoin the group IM session, the last participant to leave the group IMsession, as well as other information.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularimplementations only and is not intended to be limiting of thedisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps (notnecessarily in a particular order), operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps (not necessarily in a particular order),operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications,variations, and any combinations thereof will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe disclosure. The implementation(s) were chosen and described in orderto best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practicalapplication, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand the disclosure for various implementation(s) with variousmodifications and/or any combinations of implementation(s) as are suitedto the particular use contemplated.

Having thus described the disclosure of the present application indetail and by reference to implementation(s) thereof, it will beapparent that modifications, variations, and any combinations ofimplementation(s) (including any modifications, variations, andcombinations thereof) are possible without departing from the scope ofthe disclosure defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1.-7. (canceled)
 8. A computer program productresiding on a computer readable storage medium having a plurality ofinstructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, causethe processor to perform operations comprising: maintaining, between aplurality of participating computing devices, a collaboration sessionthat includes a group instant messaging session within an object,wherein the plurality of participating computing devices includes a hostcomputing device and one or more non-host computing devices in the groupinstant messaging session; generating a first sub-object of a pluralityof sub-objects within the object, wherein the first sub-object isrendered on the host computing device and the one or more non-hostcomputing devices; and assigning permission to the host computing deviceto edit content in the first sub-object, wherein the content in thefirst sub-object is rendered on the host computing device and the one ormore non-host computing devices, and wherein the non-host computingdevices are precluded from editing the content in the first sub-object.9. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the first sub-objectincludes a non-group instant messaging session message rendered on thehost computing device and the one or more non-host computing devices.10. The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the first sub-objectincludes a summary of messages from the group instant messaging sessionselected by the host computing device.
 11. The computer program productof claim 8 further comprising generating, by a first non-host computingdevice of the one or more non-host computing devices, a secondsub-object of the plurality of sub-objects within the object, whereinthe second sub-object is rendered on the first non-host computing deviceand excluded from rendering on a remaining portion of the plurality ofparticipating computing devices.
 12. The computer program product ofclaim 11 wherein the second sub-object includes a summary of messagesfrom the group instant messaging session selected by the first non-hostcomputing device of the one or more non-host computing devices.
 13. Thecomputer program product of claim 10 wherein the summary of messagesfrom the group instant messaging session selected by the host computingdevice is aggregated in an expandable list.
 14. The computer programproduct of claim 8 further comprising delegating, by the host computingdevice, permission to at least one other computing device of theplurality of participating computing devices to edit the content in thefirst sub-object.
 15. A computing system including a processor and amemory configured to perform operations comprising: maintaining, betweena plurality of participating computing devices, a collaboration sessionthat includes a group instant messaging session within an object,wherein the plurality of participating computing devices includes a hostcomputing device and one or more non-host computing devices in the groupinstant messaging session; generating a first sub-object of a pluralityof sub-objects within the object, wherein the first sub-object isrendered on the host computing device and the one or more non-hostcomputing devices; and assigning permission to the host computing deviceto edit content in the first sub-object, wherein the content in thefirst sub-object is rendered on the host computing device and the one ormore non-host computing devices, and wherein the non-host computingdevices are precluded from editing the content in the first sub-object.16. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the first sub-objectincludes a non-group instant messaging session message rendered on thehost computing device and the one or more non-host computing devices.17. The computing system of claim 15 wherein the first sub-objectincludes a summary of messages from the group instant messaging sessionselected by the host computing device.
 18. The computing system of claim15 further comprising generating, by a first non-host computing deviceof the one or more non-host computing devices, a second sub-object ofthe plurality of sub-objects within the object, wherein the secondsub-object is rendered on the first non-host computing device andexcluded from rendering on a remaining portion of the plurality ofparticipating computing devices.
 19. The computing system of claim 18wherein the second sub-object includes a summary of messages from thegroup instant messaging session selected by the first non-host computingdevice of the one or more non-host computing devices.
 20. The computingsystem of claim 17 wherein the summary of messages from the groupinstant messaging session selected by the host computing device isaggregated in an expandable list.